Reforming local government through the national public sector reform strategy (NPSRS) 2018-2023 An analysis of the impact of digitalisation on selected district assemblies in Ghana

Abstract

This study investigated the extent to which the digitalisation component of the NPSRS (2018-2023) reform has impacted local service delivery and social accountability mechanisms in the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, the Techiman North District Assembly and the Nabdam District Assembly. Through the lens of the Technology-Organisation-Environment Theory, the study adopted the case study design within the qualitative research approach to explore the research problem. Both purposive and snowball sampling techniques were employed to draw 27 informants across the three districts. The main research instrument used was semi-structured interviews. Three major findings came out of the study: First, all the assemblies have attained some minimal level of digitalisation in terms of technology, human resources and organisational processes. Second, digitalisation has had more positive impact on the internal operations of the assemblies than on local service delivery and social accountability mechanisms. Despite some strides made, the reform has not been effective at transforming the quality of local service delivery and social accountability mechanisms in the DAs. Third, digitalisation has had a disproportionate impact on the operations of the DAs. The Excessively poor technological, organisational and environmental context of the Nabdam DA impeded the Assembly’s ability to implement more digitalised programmes. The study identified some challenges that endanger the ability of MMDAs to digitalise. These include financial constraints, IT personnel deficits, low patronage of digitalised programmes, poor digital infrastructure and the extremely poor local contexts within which some of the DAs operate. The study recommends that increasing financial support to the assemblies; improving digital infrastructure; augmenting the ICT human resource capacities of the MMDAs, and intensifying education among residents of the ongoing programme would go a long way to ensuring programme success.